July 19, 2015

"The 14th Dalai Lama's attempt to end the reincarnation system is meant to abolish the central government's jurisdiction in historical convention and religious ritual in order to achieve his political goals, said Cedain Zhaxi."

'"The
reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the central
government, not by any other side, including the Dalai Lama himself,"
said Zhu. The 14th
Dalai Lama's attempt to end the reincarnation system is meant to mislead
the central government and the public in order to retain the title
within the clique and serve their separatist purposes, said Zhu.

'"The
heritage and development of Tibetan Buddhism cannot succeed without the
Rinpoche reincarnation system," said the 7th Reting Rinpoche, 18, who
was enthroned as the reincarnation of the 6th Reting Rinpoche in 2000. "I hope the system will last forever," he said.

'The system,
which Tibetans have believed in for centuries, cannot be ended by a
single person, said Qin Yongzhang, a researcher with the Institute of
Ethnology and Anthropology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A Rinpoche
title represents power and status in politicians' eyes, but for common
Tibetans, belief in the reincarnation of Rinpoches is a central part of
life.

'Tashi, a
48-year-old herder in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai
Province, could not say when his daughter's birthday is, but remembers
clearly the birthday of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Tashi lives
a humble life. He digs for Chinese caterpillar fungus 40 km from his
home every year to support his family. He has a Buddha hall where he
lights butter lamps and prays every day. "Should the Rinpoche not reincarnate, my Buddha hall would collapse," said Tashi.'